climbable bookshelf is also earthquake resistant : TreeHugger

We love books, and we love wood, and we love being prepared. I even used to love rock climbing. So I am especially fond of the House in Shinyoshida by Shinsuke Fujii Architects. It doesn’t need a ladder to reach high in the bookshelves; the whole bookshelf is a ladder.

According to Johnny at Spoon and Tamago, it was designed shortly after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, so the sloping shelves have an additional benefit:

The solution was to slant the entire western-facing façade and create a built-in slanted bookshelf whose shelves also function as a ladder. The slant allowed family members of all ages to climb up and reach books, but also keeps the books from falling should an earthquake ever shake the home. The slanted façade also had the effect of creating an open feeling in the family room, where the home’s high perch allowed for plenty of sunlight to enter through the large windows.

In the plans below, you can see how one enters at the side above the garage, at bedroom and bathroom level, then up to kitchen and dining, and then further up to living, dining and what I think is another very small bedroom on the far side of a light well or exterior deck.